Internal-combustion engine



Oct. 21, 1930.

A. A. FlLlCKY 1,779,163

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Dec. 31, 1928 1 I "L I 1 llmhn-h l- 16 16 111" k T l 15 INVENTOR,

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Patented Oct. 21, 1930 UNITED, STATES AUGUST A. FILICKY, or SAN-FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed December 31,1928. Serial No. 329,567.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines and more particularly to a drive means for such engines, which means will eliminate the necessity of employing the usual wrist pins, connecting rods and their associated parts, and yet provide for an effective translation of the reciprocatory motion of the pistons into a rotary motion transmitted through the drive shaft of the engine. By employing the special means of this invention for connecting the pistons with the drive shaft, a longer stroke is provided with increased power and a smoother operation is obtained. By this arrangement 15 provision is made for complete revolution of the crank shaft on each power stroke of a piston.

A further object of the invention is to provide drive means of the character described which will eliminate vibration, reduce the number of parts such as usually required in internal combustion engines, provide for greater economy of operation and generally improve the construction and operation of internal combustion engines.

WVith the above mentioned and other ob-' jects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the ac- ?19 companying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary side elevation of an internal combustion engine showing in vertical section a part of the engine and particularly illustrating the drive means of this invention.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary sectional View taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of this invention as illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, the engine comprises the usual cylinder block 1 having a head 2 and a crank shaft housing 3, in which latter a drive shaft 4: is suitably journaled. In this instance, the block contains four cylinders designated 5, 6,7 and 8, although any number of cylinders may be employed in the use of this invention. Mounted in the cylinders arethe usual pistons 9, each of which, unlike the ordinary piston, is provided at its lower end with downward spaced extensions inthe nature of plates, which extensions have lateral feet 11 secured by fastenings 12, to a transversely curved driving plate or shoe 135 This shoe is adapted to engage a cam member 15 secured centrally of its ends to the shaft 4, said cam member being eliptical in contour. At the ends of the'cam members are anti-friction rollers 16 and 17 v The drive shoe or plate13 is at all times in contact with the cam 15 and through these parts the shaft 4 is rotated, as will be later more fully described.

To provide for keepingthe driving plates or shoes 13 on the pistons in contact at'all times with the driving cams 15, I employ a spring urged interconnecting means, in this instance, between pistons of each pair. This means exerting a yielding'force downward upon the plates 13, serves the'purpose of preventing lost motion and keeping the actuating parts in proper contact at all times. In this instance, this means comprises a rocker arm 17, pivoted centrally of its endsas at 18 on the lower end of a supporting bar-19. On its free ends the rocker arm carries anti-friction rollers QO'arranged to contact with the upper sides of the plates '13 between the downward extensions 10' of the pistons. The bar 19 is vertically adjustably mounted in a verticalpassage 21 formed in the cylinder block. An expansion spring 22 engages the upper endof the bar and at its upper end engages an adj Listing screw 23 mounted in the cylinder head and-arranged whereby the tension of the spring may be varied. The other pair of pistons is provided with identical means for orcin the plates 13 into contact at all times with t edriving cams. The tension of the springs 22 may be increased to com ensate for wear, by the simple expedient- 0 properl manipulating the screw23.

" y mounting 'cams'24 on the drive shaft Lil) 4 and employing rockers 25 mounted on a shaft 26, provision is made for operating the usual Valves, not shown, through the means, part of which is indicated generally by the numeral 27, also the timing means generally designated 28, for the ignition devices 29 which may be operated through the gearing 30 oli' the shaft 4. i

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the piston in the cylinder 5 is at the completion of its power stroke, whereas the piston in the cylinder 6 has completed its compression strokeand is ready to tire. he piston in the cylinder 7 is at the end of its exhaust stroke, whereas the piston in the cylinder 8 is at the end oi its intalring stroke. By this arrangement the cylinders will lire in the following! order 5, 6, 8, 7, and on each power stroke of the piston. the shaft l makes a complete revolution. The 13 of the pistons in being at all times in Contact with the driving cams 15, will insure a smooth, even transmission of power to the shaft 4 without vibration and with a longer stroke than is possible with the connecting; 18d type of connection between the crank shaft and a piston. The leverage action of the cams provides for a power increase in the stroke augmented by the unusually long piston stroke made possible by the means of this invention.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine including: cylinders; pistons reciprocally mounted in the cylinders; a drive shaft; driving); cams l on the drive shaft; an elongated driving shoe rigidly fixed directly to each of the pistons and engaging the outer periphery of the respective cams; and resilient means yieldingly holding said shoe in engagement at all times with said cams.

2. An internal combustion engine includ ing cylinders; pistons reciprocally mounted in the cylinders; a drive shaft; members rigidly carried by the pistons and projecting downwardly therefrom: elongated curved d rivin g shoes fixed to said members; driving cams fixed to the shaft and having their peripheries disposed for engagement with. the curved driving shoes; and spring means for yieldingly bearing on the center of said shoes to hold the same in enga gjement with the cams at all times.

3. An internal combustion engine including; cylinders; pistons recii rocally mounted in the cylinders: a drive shaft; bifurcated lugs rigidly carried by the pistons and projecting downwardly therefrom: elongated curved driving shoes fixed to said bifurcated lungs: driving cams fixed to the shaft and ham in 7 their peripheries disposed for engagement with the curved driving shoes; spring means extending between the fork of the lugs for yieldingly holding said shoes in engagement with the cams at all times.

AUGUST A. FILIGKY. 

